May is Water Awareness Month, and here at Central Basin, we’re celebrating H2O in a million different ways!

Lake Skinner, where students will compete to win Solar Cup 2010!

One of our favorite events this time of year is Solar Cup, hosted by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. As a proud annual sponsor, we support outstanding local high school students as they work all year to build the best solar-powered boat they can.  This Friday, May 14 kicks off the 8th annual competition at Lake Skinner! Check out other exciting programs and events happening this month after the jump:

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April 22 marks the start of the Cash 4 Appliances Program, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The California Energy Commission has allocated $35.2 million towards rebates on energy-saving appliances.

Spring cleaning may have just gotten a little greener!

What does that mean for you? Californians are eligible to receive a $100 rebate on select Energy Star washing machines. But the savings don’t stop there. Manufacturers, retailers, and utility companies are pitching in, too: the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California will throw in an additional $50 rebate, and residents can receive $50 more from the California Department of Water Resources. Finally, check with your local utility company for extra rebates—for example, SoCal Gas has a $35 rebate, which would bring your grand total to $235 in savings!

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The stunning Whittier Greenway Trail

Central Basin is gearing up for our H.E.L.P. Landscape Workshop in Whittier on March 20. The workshop will include great information on water-saving landscape practices and how to integrate California-friendly plants into your garden.

We’re excited that Mayor Bob Henderson will join us to welcome participants and provide the opening remarks! And while you’re in Whittier, check out the Whittier Greenway Trail– a terrific example of how beautiful native plants can be.

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Central Basin’s Southeast Water Reliability Project (SWRP) was covered in today’s Whittier Daily News.

It’s an exciting time for the City of Pico Rivera, whose schools, parks, and other irrigation sites will have access to a reliable, local recycled water source through Phase 1 of SWRP.

Find out more about our exciting recycled water project and our partnership with the City of Pico Rivera and let us know what you think!

In California, we know all too well what a drought feels like, but did you know that experts anticipate water shortages to affect more than 40% of the world population by 2050?

In an exhilarating trip down the Colorado River, Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk takes viewers on a journey through one of the nation’s largest water resources. As the world population continues to grow, it’s more and more important that we step up our conservation efforts now.

Check out the movie trailer here:

The film was released on World Water Day in March 2008, and has played at IMAX theaters around the world since. Check it out and tell us what you think!

After an all-night legislative session last week, the much-anticipated Delta Bill package emerged Wednesday. Governor Schwarzenegger promised to sign the five bills into law, praising the package that finally overhauls California’s antiquated water system.

What’s inside the package: the legislation creates greater oversight of the Delta, supporting its restoration; requires water users to measure groundwater levels and report their usage; and puts forth an $11.14 billion general obligation bond on the ballot next November. Significantly, the package includes important means for increasing water conservation that includes imposing a mandate for cities to lower their water usage 20% by 2020.

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Officials have currently been discussing possible solutions for energy and water conservation plans in the surrounding area of Diamond Valley Lake. The current consideration is to build a 400-acre solar farm in which the revenue would fund the production of an international institute bringing together intelligent minds throughout the world to devise solutions relating to water and energy. Already, officials from organizations such as UC Santa Barbara, Chevron Energy Solutions, and even Australia and South Korea have shown interest in partnering with Metropolitan Water District.

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Central Basin’s Southeast Water Reliability Project (SWRP)–a 12 mile-long recycled water pipeline that will improve resource sustainability in southeast Los Angeles–will be one of 27 projects throughout the west to receive stimulus funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.

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From fully loading your dishwasher to passing on the permanent press cycle when washing your clothes, Yahoo Green today posted some interesting and low-budget ways to improve your water-efficiency at home. Extra bonus: The article includes plenty of fun water facts (did you know the U.S. uses 5.8 billion gallons of fresh water to flush waste?) For those of you in the Central Basin service area, click here to learn how we work to make conservation affordable each year by providing rebates on a variety of water-saving devices.